There’s just something refreshing about Peter Gabriel videos. They have a way of bridging the gap between pop and performance art. Take this 1983 video for “Games Without Frontiers.”

Known as simply The Beat outside of North America, The English Beat rose to popularity amidst Britain’s ska revival (alongside the mod revival)…So the ’60s-influenced fashions in the video for 1982’s “Save It for Later” shouldn’t be a surprise.

I have my brother Andy to thank for this one! The video for British singer-songwriter Nancy Nova’s “No No No” features ’80s Deco accessories, a plethora of shadows created by mini-blinds, asymmetrical hair, and some of the most intense close-ups you may ever experience. A little ’80s glam for your Happy Friday…

Nik Kershaw’s surprisingly sci-fi video from 1984 combines a 40s/50s retro feel with a glowing chroma key space suit. Add a humanoid alien with a hairdo that rivals Val Kilmer’s in Real Genius, plus visual and narrative elements that conjure memories of spacemen-themed flicks like 1976’s The Man Who Fell to Earth and 1984’s Starman, and you have this five- minute celebration of science and music.

His major motion picture was #1 at the box office this past weekend, but Anton Corbijn’s achievements go beyond directing The American. An accomplished photographer and music video director, Corbijn directed many a video for Depeche Mode and other noteworthy groups such as Echo & the Bunnymen and U2. Check out the video for Depeche Mode’s “Behind […]

For our first Friday Video Pick, check out this 1983 hit by Scottish post-punk band Orange Juice. Resist the temptation to break out the foil and cellophane. But even more interesting than the space age feel is the contrast between the video’s space ship setting and scenes of band members roaming the streets in ’80s Hawaiian shirts, white pants and Panama hats. And they pull it off. Quite well. This video has a little something for everyone…